8 Best Japanese Restaurant Melbourne Has To Offer

In this hushed and windowless room, all focus is on the practised movement of sushi master Koichi Minamishima. Details are key, from the silent gliding doors to the baskets provided for guests’ handbags. The 10-piece omakase experience might offer South Australian oysters, steamed then chilled and draped in glistening kombu, or the simple perfection of wagyu-like tuna belly. Little Ramen Baris on the smaller side when it comes to Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. The menu makes decision-making easy and the $7 Sapporo Draught on tap makes it one of our top cheap eats.
Their fusion menu spans from light to medium with edamame, seaweed salad, bibimbap and panko salmon. But that’s not all because Gaijin has sushi handrolls for days with options japanese restaurant ranging from a cheese sensation, avo delight, crunchy scallop to spicy tuna. One dose of sushi at Gaijin Japanese Fusion will leave you wanting to come back for more.

This homey diner at the end of busy Smith Street has won a loyal following for its wholesome pescatarian and vegan fare. Their ramen soups are completely plant based yet offer a superb depth of flavour. They do three varieties including a soy sauce-based broth, a spicy tofu number and our favourite, the creamy tan tan ramen enriched with sesame and soy milk. Every bowl comes topped with a dainty assortment of mashed tofu, pickles and wood ear mushrooms, while gluten-free diners are looked after with the option of swapping wheat for rice noodles. This Japanese Melbourne institution is a steadfast shoo-in for the city’s best ramen, and their expansion into Hawthorn and Carlton hasn’t quelled the lines snaking out in front of their original CBD outpost each day. Devotees wait patiently for bowls of their signature tonkotsu, a thick, collagen-rich pork bone soup cooked for hours to concentrate flavour.
Their lunch menu offers a selection of fresh, thinly sliced sashimi, pan-grilled salmon brushed with teriyaki sauce, and lunch boxes featuring prawn dumplings, sushi rolls and miso soup. Melbourne is home to a huge variety of incredible Japanese restaurants, whether you’re wanting to indulge in a decadent fine dining experience or catching up with friends over a bowl of ramen in a side street. For dinner Miyako has a kids menu available, at $35, with spring rolls, a teppanyaki mix of butter fish, chicken and mixed vegetables, fried rice, miso soup and ice cream. Otherwise the lunch menu offers good value and fewer dishes which would suit a smaller child’s appetite. Kazuki’s Restaurant feels more like entering a home than a restaurant, providing the perfect place to spend quality time with a loved one while enjoying some of the most delicious Japanese cuisines Melbourne has to offer.
This Japanese restaurant offers a relaxed and intimate atmosphere for a memorable dining experience. Aya Teppanyaki prides themselves on having some of the most dynamic teppanyaki chefs in Melbourne. They have set menus and a la carte options, so you can choose a vegetarian meal if preferred. The Kodomo Set has been specially designed for kids 12yo and under, and costs $38 per head.

Their dinner menu offers a delectable selection of nabe ryori with thinly sliced vegetables and Japanese marbled beef cooked in sukiyaki sauce or a clear broth with a side of sesame and ponzu dipping sauces. If you’re visiting with a group of friends, you can dine at their sushi bar or book their chef’s recommended banquet course that includes sashimi and sushi platters, gyu teriyaki, agedashi tofu, misoshiru and more. This glitzy CBD restaurant captures the fun side of dining out. The menu is centred around robatayaki, a style of cooking in which different cuts of meat and vegetables are skewered, grilled over charcoal and paired with a dressing to enhance their flavours. Snacky and interactive, you’ll love washing down bite-sized pieces of pork belly, wagyu and chicken with Japanese beers and fruity cocktails.
It pays homage to traditional Japanese dishes while also introducing some contemporary elements. Enjoy a chef's menu for dinner, and be sure to pair it with one of the bespoke cocktails or with a glass of Japanese whisky. With a focus on quality organic ingredients, this café offers an honest and endearing approach to food. Offering a mix of Japanese and Western breakfast and lunch options, the Japanese breakfast plate is where this humble gem really shines. Descend below street level for this taste of Tokyo that pays equal attention to its dishes and drinks.

Knowing a place is the only currency that matters now, and every hypester with a smartphone is beating you to the punch. We require a minimum of 48 hours’  notice for any cancellation, reduction of diners or date changes. Failure to do so, will incur a charge $100 per person as cancellation fees.
When it comes to eating, drinking and exploring a new city, our Veriu local hosts do it best. Made up of a passionate team, our local hosts look to create lasting memories and exceptional experiences for each and every guest. Little Bourke Street is where you will find Little Ramen Bar, specialising in some of the most incredible ramen dishes you will ever try – and we mean it. While most Melburnians are still asleep in their beds, the team at Little Ramen Bar begin preparing their incredibly delicious ramen broths as early as 5am.